Lectures on the Gospel of st. Matthew, כרך 1

nanimity and elevation of soul. It is far more glorious and more difficult to subdue our own resentments, and to act with generosity and kindness to our adversary, than to make him feel the severest effects of our vengeance. It is this noblest act of self-government, this conquest over our strongest passions, which our Saviour here requires. It is what constitutes the highest perfection of our nature: and it is this perfection which is meant in the concluding verse of this chapter; “ Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect*;" that is, in your conduct towards your enemies approach as near as you are able to that perfection of mercy which your heavenly Father manifests towards his enemies, towards the evil and the unjust, on whom he maketh his sun to rise as well as on the righteous and the just. This sense of the word perfect is established beyond controversy by the parallel passage in St. Luke: where, instead of the terms made use of by St. Matthew, “ Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect,"

* Matth.v. 48. ' . ;

Be

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the evangelist expressly says, *' Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful*." .

This then is the perfection which you are to exert your utmost efforts to attain: and if you succeed in your attempt, your reward shall be great indeed: you shall, as our Lord assures you, be the children of the Most High-f.

Having now brought these Lectures to a conclusion for the present year, I cannot take my leave of you without expressing the great comfort and satisfaction I have derived from the appearance-of such numerous and attentive congregations as J have seen in this place* That satisfactions if! can afcall judge of my own sentiments and feelings, does not originate from any selfish gratification, but from the real interest I take in the welfare, the (eternal welfare, of every one here present; from the hope I entertain that some useful impressions may have been made upon your minds; and from the evidence which this general earnestness to hear the word of God explained and recommended affords, that a deeper sense of duty, a more serious attention

* J-uke vi. 36. f Matth. v. 45«

to
to the great concerns or eternity, has, by trie blessing of God, been"awakened in your souls. If this Be so, allow me'most earnestly to entreat you not to let this ardour'cool; not to let these pious sentiments die away; not to let these good seeds lie choked by the returning cares and pleasures of the world. But go, retire into your closets, fall down upon your knees before your Maker, and fervently implore him to pour down upon you the over-ruling influences of his Holy'Spirit; to enlighten your understandings, to sanctify your hearts, to subdue your passions, to confirm your good resolutions, and enable you to resist every enemy of your salvation.

The world will soon again display all it* attractions before you, and endeavour to extinguish every good principle you have imbibed. But if the divine truths you have heard explained and enforced in these Lectures have taken any firm root in your minds; if you are seriously convinced that Christ and his religion came from heaven, and that he is able to make good whatever he has promised ' and whatever he has threatened, there is nothing surely in this world that can induce you to
risque the loss of eternal happiness, or the infliction of never-ceasing punishment.

Least of all will you think that this is the precise moment for setting your affections on this world and its. enjoyments; that these are the times for engaging in eager pursuits after the advantages, the honours, the pleasures, of the present life; for plunging into vice, for dissolving in gaiety and pleasure, for suffering every trivial, every insignificant object, to banish the remembrance of your Maker and Redeemer from your hearts, where they ought to reign unrivalled and supreme. Surely amidst the dark clouds that now hang over us *, these are not the things that will brighten up our prospects, that will lessen our danger, that will calm our apprehensions, and speak peace and comfort to our souls. No, it must be something of a very different nature; a deep sense of our own unworthiness, a sincere contrition for our past offences, a prostration of ourselves in all humility before the throne of Grace, an earnest application for pardon and acceptance through the merits of him who died for us (whose death

* la March 1798. 'and
and sufferings for our sakes the approaching week will bring fresh before our view), an ardent desire to manifest our love and gratitude, our devotion and attachment to our Maker and our Redeemer, by giving them a decided priority and predominance in our affections and our hearts; hy making their will the ruling principle of our conduct; the attainment of their favour, the advancement of their glory, the chief object of our wishes and desires. These are the sentiments we ought to cultivate and cherish if we wish for any solid comfort under calamity or affliction, any confidence in the favour and protection of Heaven; these alone can support and sustain our souls in the midst of danger and distress, at the hour of death, and in the day of judgment.

And how then are these holy sentiments, these heavenly affections to be excited in our hearts? Most certainly not by giving up all our time and all our thoughts to the endless occupations, the never-ceasing gaieties and amusements of this dissipated metropolis; but by withdrawing ourselves frequently from this tumultuous scene, by retiring into our chamVol. L M ber,